Your Choices For Shallow Diving And Lipless Crankbait Rods?

[Josh Smith]

Hello,

Crankbaits have never been my strong suit, and I'd like to get better.

I recently put together a jerkbait rod combo using a Daiwa 6'6" M/F Jupiter rod (same blank as the Aird, with Fuji components). The reel is a 4600c3 tricked out with full bearings and fast gears for 31ipt. It's spooled with 30lb Power Pro and 8lb Vanish leader.

It's not what I'd choose for most cranks, and the reel seems too fast for that purpose. Slowed back down to 26ipt, maybe.

I also have a MH/F Jupiter with a tricked out 5500c3 at 26ipt. That rod seems more like it's in-between MH and H, and likewise between F and XF. It's mostly a frog rod for this reason.

The my jig rod is a 6' MH/F Cherrywood HD with another tricked out 5500c3 26ipt reel, 65lb Power Pro line, no leader.

My dedicated crankbait rod is a 5'6" Lew's fiberglass with a pistol grip, with supertuned and tricked out 5500 (non-c) 23ipt spooled with heavy mono. It's mostly for medium to deep divers. It's the last pistol grip rod I have in active service and want to retire/replace it.

So, guys, out of those above, which would you choose for shallow divers and lipless cranks? What do you use?

Thanks!

Josh

[tander]

If I had to choose between your rigs, I would go with the Lew's rod and 5500 with 12# or 14 # test mono. My rig is  Lew's 6'6" med. David Fritts Perfect Crankin Rod with a Lew's BB1 with 5.1-1 gear ratio loaded with Sunline 12# test Natural.  This rig is good for shallow to med, crankbaits and also lipless cranks.

[Josh Smith]

Thanks, Tander. The Lew's is destined for retirement simply because I want a similar grip feel between them all, and the Lew's is the last pistol grip.

I might look at a setup similar to yours as I really like the rod. Compared to the others, it's just heavy and feels too different.

The 5500 non-c is great for cranking; I've always loved these slower reels for that job!

Regards,

Josh